Conductor spreaders and ladder hangers



Sept. 26, 1961 E. s. KRAUS, JR 3,001,603

CONDUCTOR SPREADERS AND LADDER HANGERS Filed July 14, 1958 lNVENTOR Eugene J X74 4 C77? &

ATTORNEY United States Patent Cfiice 3,001,603 Patented Sept. 26, 1961 3,001,603 CONDUCTOR SPREADERS AND LADDER HANGERS Eugene S. Kraus, J12, Media, Pa. Philadelphia Electric C0,, 1000 Chestnut St., Philadelphia 5, Pa.) Filed July 14, 1958, Scr. No. 748,509

1 Claim. (Cl. 182-46) This invention relates to a conductor spreader and ladder hanger.

In many electric power installations, particularly for residential service, three-wire secondaries are frequently employed extending from a transformer to the customers premises which may be, and often are of bare uninsulated wire. In connection with service activities it is frequently necessary to use the three-wire secondary as a ladder support.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a conductor spreader and ladder support bracket which is particularly adaptable for use with the threewire secondaries currently employed, and which serves to separate and retain the secondary wires in separated condition so as to prevent contact thereof, while at the same time providing a ladder support bracket or hanger that does not require any changes in or modification of the ladder.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character aforesaid which reduces the likelihood of shock hazard while at the same time providing with the ladder an adequate support free from any tendency to side slipping.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character aforesaid which is light in weight, suitable for attachment to ladders now in use without the necessity for any changes in or modification of the ladder, and which may be readily attached to and detached from such ladders, as desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character aforesaid in which the spreader and support bracket is of light weight nonelectrical conductive material while at the same time having adequate strength, and which has associated therewith ladder engaging and holding structure of simple but effective construction.

Other objects ad advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claim.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a View in perspective of a preferred embodiment of the present invention applied to a ladder of conventional type;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the conductor spreader and ladder hanger shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

It should of course be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the upper portion of a ladder is shown at having the usual parallel side rails 11 and transversely disposed connecting rungs 12. The three secondary or service wires are shown at 14a, 14b and 140, in their customary vertical parallel arrangement, and conventionally either the wire 14a or the Wire 14]) is grounded with a potential of nominally volts between each of the ungrounded wires and the grounded Wire, and a potential of nominally 240 volts between the two ungrounded wires.

In the form of the present invention shown in the drawings, the conductor spreader and ladder hanger bracket preferably includes an elongated plate 15 of electrical non-conductive material and for this purpose marine plywood, and fiberglass impregnated with synthetic resin, have been found suitable.

The plate 15 is preferably of substantially uniform thickness with opposite parallel side faces 16, an upper edge face 17, a lower edge face 18 and a front edge face 19.

Oppositely disposed with respect to the edge face 19 a plurality of inclined edges 20, 21 and 22 are provided preferably of the same inclination, and a plurality of inclined edges 23, 24: and 25 are provided, preferably at a greater inclination than the edges 20, 21 and 22. The edges 20 and 23, 21 and 24 and 22 and 25 extend in meeting or intersecting relation and at the intersections can be rounded or fileted to provide a plurality of sockets 26, 27 and 28 for each of the three service wires 14a, 14b and 140. Between the respective pairs of serration providing edges 21 and 22 and 23 and 24, side marginal connecting edges 29 are provided and upper and lower side marginal edges 30 and 31 are provided to complete the edge opposite to the front edge face 19.

The sockets 26, 27 and 28 are preferably disposed in a common plane and, as shown in the drawings, the plane is preferably in downwardly diverging relation to the main plane of the edge 19 to accommodate the tilting of the ladder 10 with its lower end resting on the ground or other horizontal support.

The plate 15 at the upper part of the edge 19 and in spaced relation to the upper edge face 17 is provided with an integral downward projection or hook 33 forming a recess or socket 34 with a side opening 35. The book 33 is adapted to be hooked over one of the rungs 12 of the ladder 10, with the rung 12 in engagement in the socket 34 and, in spaced relationship downwardly with respect thereto, a clamping plate 36 is provided. A clamping bolt 37 extends through an opening 38 in the plate 36 and an opening 39 in the plate 15, parallel to the planes of the faces 16. The opening 39 is in intersecting relation to an aperture 40 extending between the faces 16.

The clamping plate 36 has a lower end 41 for abutting relation to the edge 19 and an outwardly and upwardly extending portion 42 adapted to bear against one of the rungs 12 of the ladder 10, and preferably the next rung 12 below that with which the hook 33 is engaged. The clamping plate 36 is adapted to be held in clamped relation to the ladder 10 and to the plate 15 by the bolt 37 which also extends into the body of the plate 15, with its head 43 in engagement with the clamping plate 36.

Within the aperture 2% a nut 44 is provided on the bolt 37 and in engagement with a washer 45 and has a serrated edge 46 for manual access and for tightening the bolt 37 and the clamping plate 36 against the rung 12 of the ladder 10 with which it is brought into engagement.

The mode of use will be apparent from the foregoing.

The plate 15 is secured to the upper portion of the ladder 10 by hooking the hook 33 over one of the rungs 12 so that that rung is in engagement in the socket 34, and with the plate 15 preferably disposed approximately half way between the side rails 11 of the ladder 10. The clamping plate 36 is swung on the bolt 37 as required to a position in engagement with the appropriate rung 12 3 and tightened by manually turning the nut 44 on the bolt 37 to the extent required.

The plate 15 can be positioned with the sockets 26, 27 and 28 engaging the wires 14a, 14b and 140, respectively.

The wires 12a, 14b and 140 will be spread at their desired or normal spacing free from likelihood of contact with each other or with the user, and the ladder it resting at its lower end on the ground or other horizontal support will be efiectively supported in tilted position for use.

The plate 15, when in position on the ladder it does not furnish any substantial obstruction to the normal use of the ladder.

The ladder with the plate 15 secured thereto can be readily hooked onto or unhooked from the service wires 14a, 14b and 140, as desired, and the plate 15 can be readily detached, if desired, so that the ladder 10 is not restricted to only a special character of use.

In operation, it has been found preferable to attach the plate 15 to the rungs 12 near the top of an extension ladder 19 before it is raised. After the ladder 10 is erected to Vertical position unextended, the top ladder section is raised to proper height and leaned against the wires 14a, 14b and 140 which are guided into the sockets 26, 27 and 28, respectively.

The relation of the lateral spacing between the socket 26 and the recess 34 is such that when the ladder is in position and the top wire 14a is engaged in the socket 26, the side rails 11 lean against the top wire 1.4:: and contribute substantially to the support, of the ladder, The wire 14:: is thus contacted at three points (by the side rails and plate 15) which serves to stabilize the ladder and prevent rocking action.

This conductor spreader and ladder hanger has two great advantages over similar devices which are used in pairs with one attached to each side rail of a ladder. In the first place, it can be used on any ladder without any modification of the ladder. Secondly, it is very much lighter in weight because only one is used instead of a pair and because it need not have as great a factor of safety since the ladder receives substantial support by leaning on the top wire.

I claim:

An electrical conductor spreader and ladder support comprising an elongated plate of electrical non-conductive material having a first side marginal edgewith a plurality of spaced rung engaging means for engagement with spaced rungs of a ladder, an opposite side marginal edge having a plurality of spaced recesses therealong with interior sockets eachfor engagement with an electrical conductor, said sockets being disposed in a common plane, one of said rung engaging means being an integral hook and the other of said rung engaging means comprising a clamping plate, a bolt extending through said clamping plate and into the body of said elongated plate,

and a nut on said bolt and in an aperture in said'elongated plate for tightening said clamping plate. 

